Straight pull brake lever assembly



Sept. 2, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Dec. 50, 1947 Ar//////////////////////////A mw GG L MH Illlflt .E

RAY A.. SAA/Dafne.

Sept. 2, 1952 R. A, SANDBERG 2,608,881

STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY Filed DSC. 30, 1947 ZSHEETS-SHEET 2 4g 7 50 52 IZ 5/ .if /0 IITYFE'JZEF RAY A 'SAA/0am@ h y Zalm/ Patented Sept. 2, 1952 A, UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT EuLL BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY Ray A. Sandberg, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application December ao, 1947, serial No. 794,647

The present invention relates to improvements in brake lever assemblies and more particularly to straight pull brake lever assemblies whichare especially adaptable for use in connection with the emergency brakes of automobiles and thelilr'e.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved straight pull brake lever assembly including novel torsionalfreturn means for the pull rod. n

Another object of the invention isto provide in a straight pull brake lever assembly novel torsional rotary return means for the pull rod incorporated at an intermediate point of the pull rod and operative at a substantial distance from the forward end of the guiding structure for the Other objects, features and advantages vofthe present invention will be readily 'apparent from the following detailed description of a'pIeerred embodiment thereof taken in conjun'ctionwithv the `accompanying two sheets of drawings invr which: Y,

Figure 1 is a side` elevational view of a` brake prevent invenlever assembly according to the tion;Y

Figure 2 is a top pla-n view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view `of the forward end of the pull rod and the associated guide tube showing the same in a diiferent'operative relationship than in Figure 2;,

.Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal seclizional., Vview of the forward end portionof the pullrodr and'associated mechanism;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the structure shown in Figure`4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view --taken substantially on the line VI-VI ofFigure 4;l and Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the guide rod tube front end attachment flange. y

As shown: on the drawings: The straight pull brake lever assembly forming the vsubject matter of the present invention comprises a pull rod I0 to which is adapted to' be directly connected the end portion of a brake 8 iClainis. (Cl. 'I4- 503) setting cable II. At its opposite end the rod IIJ carries a handle I2, by which it isY adaptedto be conveniently manipulated. The rod is cylindrical and is guided for reciprocal and rotary movement by a supporting and guide tube member I3.

` According to the present invention, the guide and supportingl tube I3 is of a length to extend between xed portions of a vehicle such as an automobile with which the assembly is associated so as to guide the pull rod I0 in a fixed reciprocal path. To this end, the forward end ofthe guide tube I3 is preferably formed with Y an attachment flange I4 adapted to be secured in any preferred manner as by means of bolts I5 to a forward portion'of a vehicle identied at I'I and comprising, for example, the fire Wall of an automobile. For stability, the flange I4 may be of horizontally elongated form (Figs. 2 and 7) having bolt holes I8 and a central enlarged aperture I9' within which is secured a cable 20 from which s leads a cable guide tube 2l (Figs. 1 and 2). y

The ange I4 is formed integral with a flared forward end portion 22 on the guide tube I3. The flared portion 22 is of generally flattened arcuate shape tapering toward the tube diameter where side flanges 23 of the ared portion meet on -the diameter of the tube at a juncture 24 which may be welded to form a solid joint. In order to havekthe cable passage aperture I3 coaxial with the main portion of the tube I3, the flared portion 22 may be disposed slightly. angularly to the remainder of the tube substantially as shown in Fig. 1. In order to aord drainage ofany'moisture that may collect in the receptacle provided by the flared portion 22, the same may be provided with a drainage aperture 25 at the lowest rpoint thereof adjacent to the flange I4. At its rear end, the guide tube I3 is'preferably provided with a structure 21 .by which it is adapted to be attached to a xed structure of the vehicle with which the assembly is associated, such as a portion of a dash panel 28. To this end, the structure 21 comprises integral parallel upstanding flanges 29 having laterally ex. tending coplanar flanges 30 to which is secured rear edge thereof and engages the rear end of -the tube I3 rearwardly of the upstanding flanges 23 to aiiord a nished appearance for the rear end portion of the assembly forwardly of the handle i2 and also to further rigidify the assembly, the lower portion of the plate being engaged as indicated at 33 with the rear end of the tube i3.

rl`he structure 2 serves also as a pawl housing for controlling longitudinal or reciprocal disposition of the pullrod lil. To this end a pair of pia-wl members' is supported 'by the flanges 29 for selective engagement with ratchet teeth 35 on the pull rod i3 and engageable with the pawls 3d when the rod i is pulled rearwardly, whereby to hold the pull rod i3 in brake setting position. The pawls 3-5 are formed with oppositelyvextending respective arms 3l which `are'pivotal in openings 38 in the anges 23 above the pull rod I0 and also with respective laterally oppositely ex-w tending arms 3S which extend through andare swingable within arcuate slots i8 in the anges 23, the pawls being held in ratchet-ing position by torsion springs il spiraled about the selected arnisl of the pawls and having one leg engag-A ingthe adjacent arm 33 of the pawl and the: other legr engaging a fixed, integrally struckout biasing lug 2 upon selected one of .theange's 29. As a result, when the rod l is pulled forwardly by means of the handle i2, thepawls 34 engage successive ratchet teeth 3.5 for incremental brake setting adjustment o the pull For a more detailed description of the pawl and ratchet structure and operation andlthe pawl housing provided by the guide tube, reference maybe had to my copending lapplication Serial No. 779,133, filed October 10, 1947. n

According to the present invention attachment of the cable il tothe forward end oi" the pull rod l is eiected by means of a strap clevis 43 (Figs. 4 and 5) which has the oppositelegs thereof in engagement with a flattedi forward. terminal 5. on the pull rod lil and to which the clevis legs are .secured by means such Ias a screw d5. The cable ii is attached to the clevis .as by means of a generally spherical terminal lug or knob fil secured to the cable terminus and freely slidably received within a bulbousenlargement 43 at the bight of the clevis which freely clears the lng ft'lso as to permit free relative movement.'I

An apertiufe E3 is providedior passage of the cable li` through the Veight of the clevis .but 4the aperture is substantially smaller v,than theretaininglugt'i. ,1. f Y

. Forward movement of the-pull rod i!) under the iniluence of the brake tension as transmitted through the cable il, is limited by the screw t which for this purpose is provided with a rela-l tively large head 5i! projecting through a longitudinal slot 5i in theguide tube i3. The bolt head 5B engages the forward end of the slot 5| in the forward limit ci the pull rod movement. By preference a loci: washer 52 ,is interposed between the bolt head 53 and the adjacent leg of the clevis d3.

vFor releasing the pull rod it from any brake setting position thereof, it is adapted to be turned a partial revolution to clear the ratchet teeth from therpawls 34, whereupcnthe pawls are en- Saged upon a peripheral portion of the pull rod adjacent to the teeth and .the rod can then slide past the pawls forwardlyin releasing the brake.

To permit this turning movement of the rod, the Y slot 5i is or" suiilcient widthto afford an adequate range of lateral angular movement of the stop head 53. Thus, the width of the. slot-is determinative of the angular movements of the pull rod Hl, the-stop head 53 engaging one longitudinal edge of the slot in the ratcheting angular position of the pull rod iii and being engageable with the opposite longitudinal edge of the slot in the released angular position of the pull rod. In Figure 2, relationship of the parts a1..- pears in the ratcheting position of the pull rod, while in Figure 3 is shown the relationship of parts inthe release position of the pull rod.

LMeans are provided for positively returning the pull rod l0 angularly to its ratcheting position automatically as an incident to release of turning force through the medium of the handle i2.

Herein such means comprise a torsion spring 53 and a torque sleeve 54- disposed rearwardly of the limit stop .head 58 at the forward end portion of the rod Il). For this purpose, the forward end vportion of the pull rod i0 rearwardly of the iiatted terminus lili is formed with a reduced diameter cylindrical portion 55 which is of predetermined length to accommodate the torsion spring 53 vand the torque sleeve 54 between a shoulderfl at the rear end of the reduced dia-meter .portion 55 and the forward end of the reduced diameter portion. Thereby, the-torsion spring 53 in the form of a helical coil of slightly less externaldiameter than the diameter of the pull rodv I0 has -arearwardly extending terminal 58' rec.eived in a longitudinally extending slot 59 in the pull rod intersecting the shoulder 5l.

whereby to anchor the terminal for rotary movementrwith the pull rod while'the rear end of the torsion spring bears against the shoulder 5l. At its forwardV end the torsion spring 53 has. afor- Wardly extending terminal 60 which .is received between `the terminals of a split in the torque sleeve 54 and in assembly is placed under slight permanent torsional load to bear against a terminalflange .5l extending radially from the torque sleeve and projecting through the'slot '5i to en gage against one longitudinaledge of the slot, namely that edge toward which it is driven by the torque load of the spring 53 while the pull rod H1 is driven in thelopposite angular direction to the limit permitted byv engagement of the stop pin headw50 against the' opposite edge def` ning the slot. The tordue'sleeve 54;A is ',slidably disposed about the reduced diameter-portion 55 ofv thev vpull rod and is of approximately the fsame external diameter! as the external diameter of the pull rod so that the torquer sleeve as welles the torsion spring 53 is freely received within the tube i3 clear of the bore thereof. Endwis'e.

forward displacement of the torque sleeve'54-is prevented by a retaining washer 62 held in lplaceratchet teeth` 35 are engageable with the pawls 34 upon rearward' longitudinal movementof the pull rod i0. When the pull rod lll iswillfully turned in opposition tothe torsional loading of `the spring 53, the spring isfurtherjlo'adedby reason of its terminal engagement with the rod i0 at one end and the torque sleeve Eilat the other, the torque sleeve being held against angular displacementin the direction of the turn by engagement of the limitange 8| thereof against the opposing edge of .the slot iywhereby the spring 53-isplaced under increased torque for positively returning the pull rod i0 to ratcheting' position virtually instantaneously upon release: of

the brake releasing torque on the pull rod. 'By

of the brake cable `Il should the brakes ever become loose to theextent which might permit such over pu1ling.'

It will, of course, 'be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the'patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

'.I`claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a pull rod, a guide tube for the pull rod which is longer than the pull rod and has a longitudinal slot therein, means at the opposite end portions of the guide tube for attaching the tube rigidly to spaced portions of a vehicle so that the pull rod canbe moved longitudinally within the tube, means for attaching a brake cable to onev end of the pull rod, the opposite end of the pull rod having a handle projecting beyond the adjacent end of the tube, 'a longitudinal series of ratchet teeth von the rod, pawl means carried by the tube and engageable with the ratchet teeth for holding the pull rod in incre-v mental brake setting longitudinal positions within the tube, the pull rod being rotatable to clear the ratchet teeth from the pawl means, and means for positively returning the pull rod to ratcheting rotary position after having been turned to pawl clearing position and including a member projecting laterally from the pull rod and engageable with an edge defining said slot, said member being movable longitudinally within said slot during longitudinal movements of the rod and having rotary connection with the rod so that the rod can be moved rotatably within the tube whilesaid member maintains engagementwith saidedge. I

, 2. In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a reciprocable and rotatable pull rod, a guide tube for the pull rod which is of a length substantially to enclose the pull rod and has a longitudinal opening therein, means for attaching the guide tube in a vehicle in position to enable attachment of a brake cable to one end portion of the pull rod, the opposite end of the pull rod having a handle projecting beyond the adjacent end of the tube, a longitudinal series of ratchet teeth on the rod, pawl means carried by the tube and engageable with the ratchet teeth for holding the pull rod in incremental brake setting longitudinal positions wtihin the tube, the pull rod being rotatable to clear the ratchet teeth from the pawl means, and means for positively returning the pull rod to ratcheting rotary position after having been turned t0 pawl clearing position and including an element projecting laterally from the pull rod and engageable with an edge dening said opening, said return means including a torsion spring having an end anchored on the rod and a torque sleeve having said laterally projecting element thereon and providing an abutment for an opposite end portion of the spring maintained under torsion load by the abutment and anchorage of its ends.

3. In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a pull rod, a guide sleeve for the pull rod withinV which the pulll rod `is slidable for- 1ongitudinal and rotary movements, the `vsleeve being of 'greaterr length thanthe lpull rodi and projecting beyond the lforward end of thef'p'ull rod, the sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein," a reduced diameter portion on the pull rod, v4a' coiled torsion spring engaged 'about 'saidreducedf diameter portion, said spring having a terminal extending in one direction and engaging -fi'xedly' with-the pull rod, another terminal projecting' in the opposite direction from the coil spring', and atorque sleeve slidably engaging-'said-.ref duced diameter` portion Vand having a portion1 spring is placed under torsional` load for returning the rod to initial rotary position Vupon release of turning force upon the rod, said 'spring andsaid torque' sleeve being ofno greatere'xte'rnal diameter than theinternal'! diameter of the guide: sleeve so as tovbeffreelyfmof able with the rodlongitudinally within the guide sleeve.

4. In combination ina straight pull brakeleve assembly, a pull rod, a guide tube withinwhich the pull rod is reciprocably and .rotatably mounted, the guide tube having al longitudinal slot, the pull rod having ratchet teeth thereon, brake setting adjustment pawl means engageable with said ratchet teethQthe pull rod beingzrov` tatable to clear the pawl means for releasing'the brake, a reduced diameterportion onsaidpull rod having a shoulder at one end, a longitudinal slot in the pull rodv intersecting said shoulder, `a coil torsion spring encircling said reduced diame ter portion and having a terminal within said pull rod'l slot to hold the *end of the spring abutting said shoulder against relative turning movement, the spring having a terminal at its opposite end' extending in the opposite direction from the rod slotengaged terminal, and means longitudinally movalbleV with the rod but relatively rotatably disposed konsaid reduced Adiameter portion and engaging said/oppositely" extending terminal portion of the spring, said means having aportion engageable within saidl tube slot to` hold 'said means against rotation with the-'pull rod soas to develop a rod returning torsional load in the spring when the rod is turned into pawl releasing position, said means and said spring being longitudinally movable with the rod within said guide tube.

5. In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a supporting and guiding tube, a pull rod slidably mounted in said tube, said rod having ratchet teeth thereon, said tube having pawl means thereon engageable with said ratchet teeth and disengageable from the rod by turning the rod t0 clear the ratchet teeth from the pawl means so that the pawl means slide on the perimeter of the rod, said tube being of a length to extend substantially beyond the forward end of the rod and being adapted to be located in position in a vehicle so that a brake cable can be attached to the forward end of the rod, means on said forward end of the tube for attaching the same rigidly to a vehicle so that the rod can be moved longitudinally and rotatably relative to the tube, and means cooperatively interengaging with the forward end portion 0f the rod and with the tube and biasing the rod angularly to return to .ratcheting position when pawl is releasedfrom the rod. Y,

In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly of the character described, a pull rod, a guide tube for the pull rod, means at the forward end of the pull rod for attaching a brake setting cable to the pull rod and including a screw having a stop pin head projecting laterally beyond the diameter of the pull rod, a longitudinal slot in said tubeinto which the stop pin head projects, the pull rod-having ratchet teeth thereon, andfpawl means carried by the tube engageable with the ratchet teeth, the pull rod being rotatable to clear the ratchet teeth from the pawl means, said slot being of a width determinative of the-extent of the range of rotary movement-:of the pull rod as determined by engagement ofv the opposite edges of the slot by said screw headstop pin.

7. In combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a `pull rod, a supporting and guiding tube for the pull rod, a clevis secured to the forward end of the pull rod for attachment of'a brake setting cable terminal to the pull rod, the

clearing torque pull rod having a longitudinal series of ratchet l teeth, the Atube having brake setting pawl strueture thereon engageable with the ratchet teeth, said'ratchet teeth being adapted to be cleared from the pawl structure by turning of the pull rod, theV pull rod having a reduced diameter portion adjacent to its forward terminal, a torsion spring and a torque sleeve carried by the reduced diameter portion and held in place thereon by a retaining washer held in position by said clevis, the torsion spring being connected at one end tothe pull rod and at the other end tothe torque sleeve, the tube having a longitudinal slot and the torque sleeve having a laterally extending follower` nange within said slot to hold the sleeve against rotary movement with the rod when the rod is turned to pawl clearing position, said spring acting to return the rod positively to ratoheting position.

8. I n combination in a straight pull brake lever assembly, a pull rod, a guide tube structure including a tubular portion of substantially the same length as the .rod and within which the rod is slidably -reciprocable and rotatable and having means releasably cooperative with the rod to hold the rod in incremental brake setting positions in the tubular portion, said tube structure having a forward generally transversely dished laterally open aring portion projecting beyond the forward end of said tubular portion and the rod to -a substantial extent so that the guide tube structure has an elongated extension enabling rigid attachment of the guide tube structure between parts of a vehicle spaced apart substantially farther than the length of the rod, said flaring portion gradually widening from the diameter. of the tubular portion to a substantially greater width than said tubular portion at the forward end of the flaring portion and projecting substantially laterally to opposite sides of the tubular portion, said flaring portion having a terminal ilange at its forward greater width end integral therewith on a rigidifying juncture following the dished form of the flaring portion, said ange extending toward the open side of the A Vflaring por-tion and angular to and across the axis of the guide tube structure and the pull rod and adapted to be secured to a fixed portion of a vehicle with which the 'brake lever assembly is to be used, said flange having a central cable passage opening therein coaxial with the pull rod and substantial areas laterally from said central opening but integral with said rigidifying juncture for receiving attachment means, and means on the rear end portion of the tubular portion of the guide tube structure for attachment to a part of the vehicle spaced substantially rearwardly from said Xed part of a vehicle.

RAY A. SANDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l1,225,190 Aubrey May 8, 1917 1,619,117 Gray Mar. 1, 1927 1,713,842 Link May 21, 1929 2,126,234 Weber Aug. 9, 1938 2,136,095 Baumbeckel Nov. 8, 1938 2,205,983 McCarthy June 25, 1940 2,256,696 Weber Sept. 23, 1941 2,377,691 Jandus June 5, 1945 2,429,224 vFergueson Oct. 21, 1947 2,438,548 Ehmann Mar. 30, 1948v 

